Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge SSC127

Hi there stamping friends! This is an exciting week with the Stamping 411 Operators Crew - we have Thanksgiving weekend Blog Candy for you over at the Stamping 411 Blog. All you have to do to enter the drawing for one of SEVEN different prizes is leave a comment for us on THIS post, answering the questions posed in the post.
We at Stamping 411 are so thankful for you, our loyal readers and players that we decided to do something special just to show our appreciation. We wouldn't be who we are without wonderful stampers like you!

For my card with today's sketch, I decided to show you a completely different look. I took some leftover pieces of the Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin Kit and used them to create my card.
I love the Simply Scrappin' Kits because they have so many different pieces to work with that even after you complete a major project with one, you still have sooooo much left over to play around with to create more!
Here is my card creation:

Believe it or not, there is NO stamping on this card at all!
Last week, I taught an advent calendar class using this particular scrappin' kit and only used just over 1/2 of it for the project. (I'll be posting the pages bit by bit over the coming few days.)
I've begun using up the other cardstock, designer paper and sticky die-cuts by making cards and a card box. So far I have 7 cards and a box cut with the Fancy Favor Die on the Big Shot. I'll be posting them later this week as well.

Today's Stamping 411 card starts with a piece of 6" x 6" Textured Very Vanilla cardstock, folded to make a 3" x 6" card.
The striped designer paper layer is 2 3/4" x 3". After adhering it to the card front, I nipped a small slit in the fold of the card with my Horizontal Slot Punch to create a hole for my Very Vanilla Taffeta ribbon to slide through. I added the Styled Vanilla Ribbon Slide to it before adhering it to the card front.

The Scalloped Circle layer is a sticky die cut, layered with the snowflake sticky die cut. I used my Paper Piercer to add a Gold Brad to the center before sticking this embellishment to the card front. The next two layers are Textured cardstock pieces from the kit, the old Olive layer is trimmed at 1 3/4" x 2 3/4" and the Very Vanilla layer is 1 1/2" x 2 1/2". I've used one of the red ornament sticky die cuts for the focal point here. The Gold Cord is actually knotted around the top of the die cut like a hanging ornament and I've adhered the ends behind the striped designer paper. Lastly, I've added my sentiment with yet another sticky die cut for a simple Merry Christmas.

I will tell you that I thought briefly about stamping with the Tree Trimmings stamp set on the background of this one, but decided to keep the look clean and simple. I like just the texture of the cardstock on this one. It keeps it very crisp looking.
For the other cards I created in my set of 6, I did stamp on the background. When you see them later this week, you be the judge of whether or not it works! I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

So, now it's YOUR turn! Use the Stamping 411 sketch and create something fun! We love to see your artwork and are excited each week to see what you've come up with based on Selene's fabulous sketches! Be sure to leave your comment on the Thursday post and enter to win the Blog Candy!
And thanks so much for being the fabulous readers and stampers you are! You make our days special!
Stamped blessings,
~~Robin

A Thanksgiving UDI Inspiration Challenge #71

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
I hope you are enjoying a wonderful meal with the ones you love and that you didn't have to cook it! Or clean up! Yes, that's a pipe dream for many of us - at least I have a deal with my hubby, he cooks, I do dishes! I think I have the best end of that deal, even on Thanksgiving!

Don't you just love the photo above? That's my Thanksgiving table! Just kidding! It's the inspiration photo for this week's UDI challenge! I am so enjoying being on this design team - it's fun to let the photo take you somewhere creatively that you may not have thought of before.
Here is my card based on the photo:

I had the idea to use the Big Shot to dry emboss the Brushed Gold cardstock and then use my Versamarker to highlight the flowers and vines. I then used a mixture of Gold and Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder to heat emboss those areas. The photo doesn't show it very well, I think it looks much better in real life. C'mon over and you can see it for yourself! :)

I also used the mixed embossing powder on the frame image from the Great Friend stamp set. The greeting is stamped in Mellow Moss ink to match the taffeta ribbon. I hand cut that frame image and layered it with a piece of Ruby Red cardstock cut out with my Big Shot and the Matchbox Die. It's popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals over the layered ribbons.

To do the ribbons, I just adhered them separately behind the Very Vanilla cardstock layer and folded them up to create the pleat. I held them in place and used my Paper Piercer to go through all the ribbon and cardstock layers. The Clear Rhinestone Circle Brad holds the ribbons in place on the top two cardstock layers. I just trimmed the ribbon ends in a little banner.

All of the layers are mounted on a Ruby Red cardstock base.

So, what do you think - does it remind you of the photo or vice versa?
I hope you have some time to stamp this weekend in between all the eating, visiting and shopping. Find an inspiration piece like this one and see where your imagination takes you! Better yet, use this photo and let us see your creations! You can leave a comment on the UDI Blog with a link to your project - we'd love to see what you'll do with this! And while you are there, be sure to follow the links to the other design team members creations - I'm sure you'll be inspired by them!

Have a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving!
~~Robin

Gilded Stenciled Birthday

Good morning stamping friends! Just one more day until we all share the wonderful traditions of Thanksgiving: eating turkey and stuffing and cranberry sauce, watching football on tv and poring over the Black Friday sale ads as we plot our shoppping routes!
Oh, yes, and get a much needed afternoon nap! That's on my agenda for tomorrow! :)

Today's card share is a one I designed for my Just Cards classes earlier this month. I was inspired to stencil on cardstock by two Christmas cards I'd received in some swaps, so I purchased the Vintage Ornament stencils with the intent of casing them. BUT, when I saw the different stencil layers in the package, I was drawn to this flourish. I thought it would make a gorgeous card all on it's own, so that's where my idea for this card started.

I used Kraft cardstock as my card base and sponged the edges with some Soft Suede ink. It was trimmed up with the Corner Rounder on the bottom corners. Then I put a little Dotto adhesive (removable) on the back of the flourish stencil and placed it on the card front. Using my Sponge Daubers, I sponged Rich Razzleberry ink through the stencil onto the card.
Once I had the color saturation I was happy with, I removed the stencil and rubbed off the Dotto residue. The greeting, from the Sincere Salutations stamp set was stamped in more Soft Suede ink and then I highlighted it with my Paper Piercer and Mat Pack.

Now for the fun part!

I took out my much neglected Versamarker and traced a few parts of the stenciled image with it. Then I heat embossed it with Gold Embossing Powder and the Heat Tool. How cool is that?! I know, it's probably not anything new, but I love the elegance of this card! Even after being a stamper for over 14 years, I still get excited when something turns out so cool!

Two more things for the front of this card - I used my Color Spritzer tool and my Soft Suede marker to add some speckles to the card front. It is finished off with a piece of Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon tied all the way around the card front.

I couldn't leave the inside of the card unfinished, so I added a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock, also sponged and corner rounded. As you can see, I stenciled just a bit of the design in the lower left corner and added a greeting from the Heard From the Heart stamp set.

It's a super simple card with a lot of impact - I was so pleased with how easy it was to do this technique. I'll definitely be doing this again!
Have a wonderful day doing all your prep for the big day tomorrow! If you have time, check back in with me, I'll have my UDI Blog Inspiration Challenge project posted for you to see.
So thankful for you all!
~~Robin

More Retired Stamp Sets for Sale!

Hi everyone!

Finally, I have photographed and priced all my remaining retired sets and wheels - well, those that I can part with for now anyway!
All the added stamps have been put on the slide show on my blog sidebar, so please check them out if you like.
I will only ship to continental US - Priority Mail only. The prices listed do not include shipping.

Thanks for stopping by, I'll be back tomorrow with another creative project for you!
Blessings,
~~Robin

A Very Special Gift Box

Hi everyone! I wanted to share something very special with you today. I've been getting a lot of questions and comments about this gift box on the shelf in my studio and thought some of you would like to hear the story behind it.
At convention this year, I was asked to serve on the Advisory Board for Stampin' Up! and it was a huge and unexpected honor to say the least. One of the special things we receive for serving is a custom designed ring. This is the box that Shelli presented our rings to us in at a lunch during the retreat earlier this fall.
It was such a nice setting, our lunches were all set up for us in the atrium area at the corporate headquarters and each placesetting had our ring boxes set there for us.

We were all so excited and carefully opening our boxes, enjoying finding our rings inside when the craziest thing happened..........
the fire alarm went off and we had to evacuate the building!
Well, I hadn't even gotten my box open yet - so leaving everything else behind, purse, camera, etc. I picked up my ring box and carried it outside with me.
I wasn't about to leave THAT behind. No, siree! I could replace my purse, but that box was a work of art!
It just cracks me up every time I think about it, the box was the one thing I couldn't leave behind! LOL! Thank goodness the fire alarm was a test or something, but it sure put some extra excitement into our day. And it made a memorable moment even more so for me!

So, there you go, a special project and a funny story. What more could you want on a Tuesday? Oh, turkey and cranberry sauce? Just wait, that's coming on Thursday!~
Stamped blessings,
Robin

Busy Day !!!

Good morning my stamping friends!
I am headed in to my Advent Calendar class but wanted to let you know that I'll be posting a pic and a funny story here later today. It should be up by this afternoon!
Love you guys!
~~Robin

Copacabana Team Brings Home the GOLD!

Yessir! The National Blades Pre-Juv team placed 1st in this weekend's Mountain State Synchro Skate in Charleston, WV! WooHoo!

Here the whole team is together in the stands prior to their competition skate. They had already had their practice ice and skated out all the jitters. Now they were kicked back cheering on two of the other National Blades teams.

But, when showtime comes, you can see the anticipation on Emma's face as she heads to the dressing room for a last stretch and run through with her team.

Couldn't resist this shot of two proud dads - my hubby Mark on the left and Emma's friend Emi's dad, Greg on the right!

This is a pretty good shot of the team in one of their blocks. Here they are headed into a group lunge, very hard to do in this tight formation. Emma is second from the left in this photo. If you want to see their whole performance, an amateur video is on the National Blades website here. Just click on the link for Pre-Juv Team Video.

And here is our very own golden girl after receiving her medal on ice. The smile on her face says it all!

Couldn't resist this picture of the two of us! It was so great to celebrate with her this time!

Great job girls! We are so proud of you! You are really coming together as a team and there is lots more celebration to come this season!
Go National Blades!